The USAF MQ-9A Reaper fleet is down to about 135 airframes — under half the 351 counted in FY2022 — and the production line is shut, Army Recognition reported from a 23 September CRS study. GA-ASI told CRS a restart would take two to three years.
FY27 asks for no new Air Force Reapers; the Navy wants five for the Marines. The service still claims 56 combat lines.
Epic Fury losses were not published, of course.
GEN Ken Wilsbach called the Reaper the operation’s MVP.
Successor plan is Massed Modular Aircraft at ~$10 million versus $30–50 million for a Reaper, prototypes from FY28, 500 jets by 2032.
Effectiveness of the Proposed Massed Modular Aircraft. The Air Force has stated that the MMA concept would provide field commanders with a similar capability as the Reaper at a lower per-unit cost. Representatives for General Atomics have criticized the Air Force’s cost target for MMAs as not realistic. Congress could consider what sort of analysis of alternatives informed the MMA proposal. Congress might also consider how the Air Force is applying lessons from the Iran conflict to the development of the MMA.
It will cost much more and delivery will be delayed of the MMA.
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13318
